The latest release from Massena LAB, William Massena?s brand that has established itself as something of a master of the collaborative limited edition, has a new release this month that represents a fairly large step forward. Not only does it shine a light on an independent watchmaker who to this point has largely flown under the radar, but it?s the first Massena LAB release to feature their own proprietary movement. The Magraph, the new watch made in collaboration with Rau?l Page?s, is also the first timepiece that the Swiss watchmaker has partnered on with another brand. 

The Magraph, at a glance, has the look of an old fashioned sector dial. According to Massena LAB, the design was inspired by a unique piece commissioned in the early 1930s for a Berlin based luxury retailer. The Magraph has an aesthetic that is rooted in the Bauhaus design movement, with a dial free of unnecessary ornamentation. The geometric patterns that form minute and hour tracks and divide the dial into distinct sections have a rigorous symmetry to them that is pleasing to the eye and, in the process, forms a highly legible interface for reading the time. The dial is off-white, with a rhodium plated outer ring providing contrast. The hands are in a classic leaf style, and have been heat blued to provide an additional color contrast. The simple steel case is 38.5mm in diameter, with lines inspired by classic mid century watches.  
While the dial and case have an obvious aesthetic ...